Key reel



' AprilZS, 1931. w, T

KEY REEL Filed Oct. 29, 1928 INVENTOR 14/. BEST BY ATTORNEY l at ented Apr. 28,1931

PATENT OFFICE v.WILIJAM BEST, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS KEY REEL Application filed October 29, 1928. Serial No. 315,885.

My invention relates to improvements in key reels, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangementsherein described and claimed.

5 I An object of my invention is to provide an improved device overthat set forth in my prior Patents No. 1,485,663 of March 4, 1924, and No. 1,567,783 of. December 29, 1925. These improvements lie primarily in a construction whereby when the cord to which the keyring: and keys are secured is retracted,means is provided for positively l and automatically locking the cord so'that I the keys will be firmly supported. 1

A furtherobject is .to provide a device in which the. construction is such that the weight andsize of the device are reduced to a minimum.

- A further object is to providea device in .20 whichithe parts may be readily secured together, thereby facilitating the assembly of the device. V

Other objects and advantagesv will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particu-. larly pointed out in the appended'claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which I tached to a ,belt,

Figure 2 is 'an elevation'of a portion of my device, s

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary view, an

Figure 5 is'a detail view of a portion of' my device.

In carrying'out my invention, I provide preferably from suitable sheet metal. A thin circular disc 2 is secured to the member 1 as shown in Figure 1. The saucer-shaped member 1 is provided with a depressed por tion 3, the latter being formed eccentrically with respect to the transverse axis of the saucer-shaped memberl. s

A disc-like member 4 having an extended portion 5 is provided. Referring to Figure 9 3, it will be noted that the disc 2 is formed Figure 1 is a face view of my device at a saucer-shaped circular member 1 formed with afbearingportion '6 for supporting the disc-like member 4; A companion disc member 7 is mounted upon the extended 1 portion 5, as shown in Figure 3. The expasses through an opening 9 in the companion disc 7, see Figure 2. 'A rivet or screw 10 passes through the device, as shown in'Figure 3. The rivet 10 is concentrically disposed with respect to the eccentrically formed portion 3. A sleeve 11 is mounted upon the rivet and between the disc '2 and the saucer-shaped member 1. p The sleeve 11 is provided with a slit 12, see Figure 5. r

A spiral spring 13- is disposed within the extended portion 5, as shown in Figure 2. One end of the spring, 13. .is secured within the slit 12. of the sleeve 11 and the other end is secured with respect to. the extended portion 5 by means of a projection 14 which is formed integral with the extended por tion. The sleeve 11 is provided with projections 15 which extend through the disc member 2 so that the sleeve 11 is held against rotation.' The spring 13 is not 7 shown in Figure 3 for the sake of clearness. v I p "The pull cord 8 is provided with a terminal 16 having a hook member 17 for receiving a key ring 18 upon which a key or a number of'keys 19 may be disposed; The terminal. 16 is tapered and is adapted to enter an opening O in the casing A comprising the saucer-shaped member 1 and the disc member 2. The opening 0 is enlarged at 20 and constricted at 21, see Figure 4. 7

When it is desired to employ the key, the latter is grasped and pulled away from the casing A. As the'pull cord 8 is moved outwardly,-the disc member 4 and the companion disc 7 rotate upon the'bearingportion 6.

Such rotation will of course increase the tension of the spring 13. On the release oi the key, the tension of the spring 13 will cause a counter-rotation of the guideway for the all cord 8 until the key ring 18 is disposed in its normal position, as shown in Figure 1. At this time the terminal 16 will he firmly locked by reason of the enlarged end of the terminal bearing against the constricted portion of the opening 0. The constricted portion 21 receives the hook 17 as shown in Figure 1, so that the projection of the hook from the casing A is reduced to a minimum.

A suitable clip 22 is secured to the disc member 2 by means of the rivet 10. The clip is mnunted for rotation so that the casing A may be'disposed in any desired position. Any suitable means may be provided for locking the clip against rotation such as pro ections formed in the disc membar 2.

The portion 3 is formed eccentrically so that space is provided for the terminal 16 between the outer edges of the members at and 7 and the edge of the casing A. Thus it will be seen that the ultimate diameter of the casing A is reduced to a minimum,

I claim:

1. A key reel comprising a casing having a depressed portion i'ormcd eccentrically ith respect-to the transverse axis of the casing, said depressed portion being arran ed to provide a terminal chamber withm the casing, a cord-holding device disposed within the casing and arranged concentri- 03113 with res ect to the depressed portion, spring means or actuating the cord-holding means, and a cord wound around said cordholding means and provided with a terminal upon one end, said casing being provided with an opening having a constricted portion and communicating with said terminal chamber, said terminal being arranged to enter the opening in the casing and to be held therein by the constricted portion of said opening.

2. A key reel comprising a casing having a depressed portion formed eccentrically with respect to the transverse axis of the casing, said depressed portion being arranged to provide a terminal chamber within the casing, a cord-holding device disposed within the casing and arranged concentrically with respect to the depressed portion, spring means for actuating the cord-holding means, a cord wound around said cord-holding means and provided with a terminal upon one end, said casing being provided with am opening having a constricted portion and communicating with said terminal chamber, said terminal being arranged to enter the opening in the casing and to be held therein by the constricted portion of said opening, and means associated with said terminal for supporting a key.

3. A key reel comprising a casing having a depressed portion formed eccentrical with respect to the transverse axis of the casing, said depressed portion being arranged to provide a terminal chamber within the casing, a. cord-holding device disposed within the casing and arranged concentrically with res met to the depressed portion, spring means or actuating the cord-holding means, a cord wound around said cord-holding means and provided with a terminal upon one end, said casing being provided with an opening having a constricted 301'- tion and communicating with said terminal chamber, said terminal being arranged to enter the opening in the casing and to he held therein by the constricted portion oi said opening, means associated with said terminal for supporting a key, and means associated with the casing for removably securing the casing upon a belt. a

4. A key reel comprising a casing having an eccentrically arranged deprmsed rtion for forming a terminal chamber wit in the casing, said casing being provided with an opening having a constricted portion and communicating with the termial chamber, a cord-holding device dispomd within the easing and arranged concentrically with respect to the eccentrically arranged depressed por tion, and a cord associated with said cordholding device and being provided with a terminal adapted to enter the opening in 7 said casing and to be held therein by the constricted portion of said opening.

5. A key reel comprising a casing having an opening therein, a spring-actuated drum disposed within the casing, a cord wound about the drum and passing through said opening, and a key-holding device secured to the end of the cord projecting through said opening and being provided with means arranged to pass through the Opening for engaging the edge of the same, whereby said key-holding device is positively held against outward movement.

Signed at Chicago, in the County of Cook, and State of Illinois this 12th day of Octoher, A. D. 1928.

WILLIAM BEST. 

